Combined adjustable coupling and switch actuator



Nov. 21, 1950 w. M. MACK 2,530,709

COMBINED ADJUSTABLE COUPLING AND SWITCH ACTUATOR- Filed Dec. 7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

Nov. 21, 1950 w. M. MACK 2,530,709

COMBINED ADJUSTABLE COUPLING AND swncu ACTUATOR Filed Dec. '7, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WayneMZiZzc/i: Y

B WWW Patented Nov. 2i, 1950 OFFICE COMBINED ADJUSTABLE COUPLING AND SWITCH ACTUATOR Wayne M. Mack, Easton, Pa., assignor to Dixie Cup Company, Easton, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application December 7, 1945, Serial No. 633,473

This invention relates to a combined adjustable coupling and switch actuator which, although capable of use in various types of machinery, is primarily intended for use in connection with automatic vending dispensers, such as coin control apparatus for delivering beverages or the like in suitable containers, as paper cups,

"the general characteristics of which machines are known in the art.

In machines of the type recited it is customary practice to provide units of the associated mechaor flexible coupling between the driving and driven members and the association therewith of an adjustable camming mechanism to constitute the actuator or control for a switch determining the operation of a part or parts, as may be desired, in the dispenser mechanism, for example, the supply of the cup adapted to receive the beverage or the like, the shifting of stacks of cups from which a cup is to be delivered, the running and stopping of the mechanism, etc.

One practical and preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof, and the novel details of the present invention will appear from said illustration when viewed in connection with the detailed description hereinafter presented, and as embraced within the hereto appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a top elevation of fragmentary portions of units adapted to be coupled, (the refined mechanisms'thereof not being illustrated because of, their being unimportant so far as the present invention is concerned) associated through the medium of the improved coupling and switch actuator of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view illustrating the end of the mechanism illustrated in the preceding figures and the association of the same with a switch to be actuated or controlled thereby;

Figure 4 is a detached inner face view of one of 4 Claims. (Cl. 74-69) the coupling members enabling the adjustment or flexibility between the same and its companion coupling member;

Figure 5 is a similar View of the other coupling member.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate the same parts in the several views, 5 represents an electric motor or the like, constituting what has been styled as the driving member, that may be controlled in any conventional or preferred manner, as by a switch actuated through the medium of the depositing of a coin, for example, usual in coin control means and not shown herein.

A drive shaft 6 projects outwardly from the motor and has pinned or otherwise secured thereto at 1, a head 8, constituting one member of a coupling. A complemental or opposite head 9 of said coupling is pinned or otherwise secured, as at ill, to a driven shaft i I, projecting from a part of the dispenser mechanism, diagrammatically illustrated at [2, to be actuated by the shaft H. The drive and driven shafts 6 and II project towards each other and are intended to be in true alignment, but as has been previously noted, an imperfect alignment at times prevails; and a feature of the instant invention is to accommodate for such disalignment while permitting the intended drive of the shaft H from the shaft 6 of the motor.

To the foregoing end the head 8, on the shaft of the motor, has radially disposed on its inner face a pair of ways l3, alternatively usable, in case of wear of parts. In one of these ways, the upper one as shown in Figure 2, a guide 14 of circular contour slidably fits for movement radially of the drive shaft 6 to accommodate for any lack of true axial alignment of the shafts 6 and II, the guide being the hollow head of a screw or bolt, the stem l5 of which is threaded into the opposite coupling member 9 as at l6. On a smooth intermediate portion H, of the bolt, of a length to substantially span the space or separation I8, between the adjacent ends of the shafts 6 and I l, is sleeved a multi-faced cam l9, adapted to be turned on the said portion I! to appropriately position one of the cam faces for initial operation or permit adjustment to displace the same to present another of said faces in operative position at will, dependent upon the wear of said cam faces, as will be obvious.

In the example illustrated the cross-section of the cam 19 is square, as seen in Figure 5, the corners 20 thereof constituting the operating port ens o the cam.

The cam I9 is fitted between a like square seat or recess 2|, in the inner face of the Coupling member 9 to prevent the cam from turning away from its position of adjustment, and it is bound in said seat or recess by the head [4 of the bolt or screw l5 impinging upon the adjoining end of the cam and securing the same in place between said head and the base of the seat 2 I. The head or guide M is hollow, as stated, and of angular contour to receive an internal wrench or tool utilized in securing the bolt I5 in binding position or loosening the same to allow for turning the cam I! to position a new actuating corner thereof in operative position, it being observed that the screw 10, binding the coupling member 9 to the shaft Il, may be loosened to permit the sliding of the coupling member 9 on its shaft II, to separate the members Band 9 When it is desired to manipulate the head I4 in loosening or fastening the cam 19, said screw l0 entering an elongated groove 22 and binding upon the shaft II, also"permitting a limitedadjustment of the coupling member 9 with'resp'ect to the companion coupling member 8.

Thecoupling members being assembled it will be appreciated that the driving of the shaft 6, by ther'not'or', will correspondingly impart'motion to the'sha'f-t H through its'headil and the selfadjusting coupling means l5, l9 and is therebe'tweenj and the 'complemental rotation of the shaftgandcoupling' member will carry the'cam l's'withits appropriate contacting corner or cam face '26 around'with theshafts so that it will actuate the member orpartintended to be contacted thereby,in this instance being a contact roller 23, carried at the end of a spring 24 constituting onemember of {micro-switch or the likefsaid switch member 2 3 normally springing outwardly when not depressed by the cam l9 to openor close a circuit, as the case in question may demand, or make desirable, This switch member 24, with its roller" 23, is'clearly 'shown' in Figure 3,'from which it will be seen that as the coupling is rotated, in either directionfthe radiallyoutermost cam surface'28a will engage the roller 23 and press the same outwardly to'correspondingly actuate'tlie switch member 2 resultiiig in the opening or closingof' the circuit, as'the'casemaybel "From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that in a'ver'ysimple, huteflicie'nt'and durable maria nism, an adjustable or flexible coupling to accoinmodate disalig'ned' shafts is afforded, while at" the same time'an adjustable "actuator "cam is firmly maintained and supported between the op posite members of" the coupling, in position to coneomitantlyactuate the switch when the couplin'g 'ro'tates', in'cra'nk fashion,'with the rotation of the driving an driven'slia'fts Band.

,Idaim:

1. The combination with drive and driven members, or" me s" for coupling the same while allowing for disal'ignment ofsaid members, comprising rotatable heads having relatively radial adjustablepmov'einent therebetween, a cam carried by 'the coupling located between. the heads and rotated therewith, said cam being of angular contour to provide multi-faced cam surfaces, and means for rotatably adjusting the same, the head to which the cam is attached having a seat conforming to the contour of the cam to prevent rotation thereof when adjusted.

2. The combination with drive and driven members, of means for coupling the same while allowing for disalignment of said members, comprising rotatable heads having relatively radial adjustable movement therebetween, a cam carried by the coupling located between the heads and rotated therewith, said cam being of angular contour to provide multi-faced cam surfaces, means for rotatably adjusting the same, the head to which thecam is attached having a seat conforming to the contour of the cam to prevent rotation thereof when adjusted, and a threaded securing means engaging said head and passing through the cam to bind the latter to the head.

3. The combination with drive and driven members, of means for coupling the same while allowing for disalignment of said members, comprising rotatable heads havin relatively radial adjustable movement therebetween, a cam carried by the couplin IQ ated between the heads and rotated therewith, said cam being of angular contour to provide multi-faced cam surfaces, means for rotatably adjusting the same, the head to which the cam is attached having a seat conforming to the contour of the cam to prevent rotation thereof when adjusted, and a threaded securing means engaging said head and passing through the cam to bind the latter to the head, the securing means having a headed portion impinging on the cam and forcing the same to its seat, the head projecting into a slotted portion of the opposite member to constitute the said means for allowing for disalignment of the coupling members.

4. The combination with separated drive and driven shafts having fixed axes of rotation, of means for coupling the same while allowing for disalignment of said shafts, comprising rotatable heads mounted on said shafts, one of said heads having a radial slotted portion constituting a Way and the other of said heads having a stud projecting therefrom and into said way on a line ofi'setfrorn but parallel to the axis of the head carrying the same, and a cam carried by said stud located between the heads, said stud being in the form of a screw to clamp the cam to said other head to move therewith.

WAYNE M. MACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,145,337 Street July 6, 1915 1,813,764 Prince July '7, 1931 1,924,423 Svenson Aug. 29, 1933 2,288,435 Browne June 30, 1942 

